Cellular Mechanisms in Neurodegeneration, Injury, and Regeneration

Submission Deadline: 15 October 2025 View: 92 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Jaspreet Kaur

Email: Jaspreetkaur1306@gmail.com, jaspreet.kaur@sund.ku.dk

Affiliation: Center for Translational Neuromedicine and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Kbh N, Copenhagen, Denmark

Homepage:

Research Interests: spinal cord injury, neurodegeneration and regeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, glymphatic system, neural population dynamics

Dr. Graciela L Mazzone

Email: GMazzone@austral.edu.ar

Affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), CONICET-Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Homepage:

Research Interests: spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, neuroinflammation

Summary

The nervous system's response to injury and degeneration, as well as its potential for regeneration, is a complex interplay of cellular and molecular mechanisms. Unraveling these mechanisms is critical for developing effective treatments for a wide range of neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injuries, and other disorders that impact brain and spinal cord health. This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in cellular mechanisms related to neurodegeneration, injury, and regeneration, as well as explore potential therapeutic strategies.

Key areas of focus include:
1. Cellular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases:
- Exploring the cellular processes involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and other neurodegenerative disorders.
- Understanding the roles of protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in neuronal death and disease progression.
- Investigating therapeutic strategies aimed at modifying cellular responses to protect neurons and slow disease progression.
2. Spinal Cord Injury and Neuroregeneration:
- Examining cellular responses to spinal cord injury, including the activation of glial cells, the formation of inhibitory scar tissue, and the potential for axon regeneration.
- Investigating the role of stem cells, growth factors, and molecular signaling in promoting spinal cord repair and regeneration.
- Analyzing how neuroplasticity, neural population dynamics, and circuit reorganization contribute to recovery of function following injury.
3. Neuroinflammation and the Glymphatic System:
- Delving into the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration and injury, with a focus on how glial cells (microglia, astrocytes) mediate the inflammatory response.
- Exploring the function of the glymphatic system in clearing metabolic waste and how dysfunction in this system may contribute to neurological diseases.
- Understanding the interaction between immune cells and neural cells, and how modulating neuroimmune interactions can promote repair and reduce pathological damage.
4. Neurodegeneration and Regeneration at the Cellular Level:
- Investigating the molecular signaling pathways involved in the repair of neuronal cells and tissues after injury or degeneration.
- Exploring how neuroregenerative mechanisms, such as neural stem cell activation and neurotrophic signaling, contribute to functional recovery.
- Analyzing the adaptive responses of neurons and glia in the context of injury and degeneration, with a focus on cellular plasticity and regeneration.
5. Neural Population Dynamics and Circuit Reorganization:
- Studying how neural population dynamics change in response to injury and how these changes impact brain and spinal cord function.
- Exploring the reorganization of neural circuits during recovery and its role in restoring lost functions.
- Investigating the potential for targeted interventions to enhance or guide neural circuit reorganization following injury.
6. Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegeneration and Injury:
- Analyzing novel therapeutic approaches targeting cellular mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration, injury, and regeneration.
- Examining the potential of stem cell therapies, gene editing, and small molecules to enhance repair and regeneration in the nervous system.
- Exploring the challenges in translating experimental therapies into clinical practice and optimizing their effectiveness in treating neurological disorders.
7. Cellular and Molecular Adaptations in Chronic Neurodegeneration:
- Investigating the cellular adaptations that occur in response to long-term neurodegeneration and injury, including changes in cellular metabolism, protein homeostasis, and stress responses.
- Understanding how chronic neurodegenerative conditions alter cellular behavior and how these changes may impact the efficacy of regenerative treatments.
- Examining strategies to reverse or counteract maladaptive cellular responses and restore normal cellular function.

This special issue welcomes original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and perspectives that provide insights into the cellular mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration, injury, and regeneration. By exploring the molecular pathways that drive these processes and the therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating their effects, this issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of how to improve treatment outcomes for neurological conditions and promote neuroregeneration.

Keywords